- If you do not go to your court hearing, it is likely that a decision will still be made on your case. The court may do three things in your absence. The court may issue a bench warrant, charge you with a new misdemeanor -- such as Failure to Appear -- and suspend your driver's license. Not all states will suspend your license, but this is the case in NV, CO, FL, AZ, AK and some other states.
- As soon as you realize you have missed your court date, contact the courthouse and find out what was decided on your case. The courthouse phone number will be listed on your hearing notice documentation. You will need to provide your ticket citation number, the registration number from the hearing you missed and your driver's license number. Once you learn the finding of your missed hearing and you agree with the outcome, you will pay any applicable fees and adhere to that outcome.
- If the outcome of your missed hearing is not what you expected or you feel it is unfair, you may appeal the decision and request another hearing. You have the right to appeal the decision, but obtaining a new hearing is not a right and you must have a legitimate reason to have missed your initial hearing. Traffic or forgetting is not accepted as a reason to have missed the initial hearing. If you are granted a new hearing, be sure to attend. The decision made at your second hearing will often be final and obtaining a third hearing is very difficult.
- If a bench warrant is indeed placed in your name, it is in your best interest to have it removed immediately. You must file a Motion to Withdraw a Bench or Failure to Appear Warrant with the Criminal or Traffic Clerk's office. You may want to hire an attorney to help you with the form and represent you at your hearing. The likelihood of your Motion to Withdraw being approved depends on how quickly you file your paperwork with the office.
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